On the occasion of 50th anniversary of the terrible flood that hit Florence, italianme entrust the blog, to the emotional testimony of grandfather Giancarlo who lived those dramatic days!

“FLORENCE, NOVEMBER 5, 1966

It was November 4, 1966 when Florence was beaten and submerged by a relentless and devastating flood of water and mud. Three days of heavy rain and the sudden level rise of the Arno river were the prelude to the cataclysm that befell the city. Florence was adorned with flags to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the victory of Italy in World War I. At 3:30 on November 4 the river growth covered the arches of Ponte Vecchio. At 8:30 the catastrophe was beginning. The Arno river overflowed along its banks. At 9:30, the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza Signoria, Via Cavour, Piazza del Duomo and the historical center were submerged by a river of mud and water reaching a height of 4-5 meters. The momentum and fury of the water flowing through the streets and squares was carrying waste and destruction of all kinds, creating a soundtrack for a day that will not be forgotten.

During the night the river height decreases leaving behind a smelly carpet of mud, destroyed streets, the river banks disappeared, shops and craft workshops were destroyed, and many artworks were damaged.

I lived in Via Santorre Santarosa, at Campo di Marte.

On the morning of November 5, armed with a TV camera, I walked to the destroyed Arno river to find in an indescribable situation. Uprooted trees, destroyed streets, cars on top of each other, businesses devastated, so much mud and so desperate people. I walked to the Ponte Vecchio. All jewelry had been invaded by mud and people dipped their hands in the mud looking for jewelry. After a few hours the bridge was closed. I arrived to Santa Trinidad Square, it was covered by a meter of mud, where the statue of justice seemed to observe around with a depressing look. A ghostly silence. This beautiful square with its palaces and towers conveyed a terrifying desolation.

With my camera I shot some scenes, and then sank into the mud from where a fireman pulled me out. I headed to Porta Rossa. I wanted to film the devastated businesses, but I had to desist because the exasperated owners threw me mud. I adventure myself into Piazza della Signoria and Piazza Duomo. I turned off the camera. Despair not need to be documented and sadly took the road back home thinking on the mud flow, in the desperate faces of the people, in raped works of art, in cars overturned in the devastated streets, in the destroyed workshops and businesses.

But I also thought that Florence is a big city and that would be able to resurface. I went home and, leaving the camera, I wiped a tear from my eyes, light as a dewdrop.”